Rose plant--`Ausmit`

ABSTRACT

A new variety of rose plant of the shrub class distinctive in its character by its fully double, pale, creamy apricot flowers with abundant continual blooming, and the unusual shaping of the flowers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of shrubroses, said new variety originating as a single seedling resulting froma definite effort to produce an improvement in this class of rose.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Primary features of this new variety which connote a distinctive advanceover existing types are the vigorous abundant and continual bloomingthat occurs for 5 months taken with the perfection of the fully doubleflowers of an old-fashioned shape, more particularly apparent in theaccompanying illustration of a specimen thereof. It is also noted thatthe unusual and pleasing petal colouration intensified in colourdarkness with blossom, age and exposure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying illustration shows typical cultivar flowers of this newcultivar in various stages of development, depicted in color as nearlytrue as is possible to make the same in color illustrations of thischaracter.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new variety, colorterminology being in accordance with the "Methuen Handbook of Colour"published by Eyre Methuen Ltd (1963).

Variety denomination (in accordance with the UPOV Convention): Ausmit.

Cultivar trade name.--St. Cecilia.

Type.--Hardy, outdoor, bush, seedling, for cut flowers and gardendecoration.

Class.--Shrub.

Propagation. The variety holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough succeeding propagations by budding.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by budding has taken place at anursery in Albrighton, Nr. Wolverhampton, England and it was derived asfollows:

Female parent (seed parent) Unknown seedling.

Male parent (pollen parent): Unknown seedling.

The operation of the artificial pollination is therefore expressed bythe following unknown seedling×unknown seedling.

The following observations are made of specimens grown outdoors inEngland.

PLANT DESCRIPTION

Plant

Height.--100 cm.

Habit.--Strong, bushy.

Branches:

Young stems.--Color: 29D7 Greyish green. Texture: Smooth. Thorns: 2-5per node, 1-3 mm long 10C7 brownish red at base fading to greyish yellow1B4 with numerous red glandular hairs.

Old stem.--Color: 30E8 Parrot green. Texture: Rough. Thorns: Numerousred glandular hairs and numerous thorns 1-7 mm 11D8 claret.

LEAVES

Stipules:

Length.--20-25 mm.

Width.--6-8 mm.

Angle of wingtips to petiole.--45°.

Color.--1B5.

Margins.--Linear or slightly convex, finely toothed with red tippedglandular hairs. Mid rib greyish red 10D5.

Shape.--Medium width.

Petiole:

General description.--Length: 80-95 mm. Upperside color: 30E8 Parrotgreen, groove margins and nodes tinged with brownish violet 11D7.Groove/hairs/thorns: Groove sparsely lined with red glandular hairs.Underside: 2B4 greyish yellow with pale pink tinge 10A2. Hair/thorns:Occasional red glandular hairs.

Leaflets:

Number.--3, 5, most often 7.

Shape.--Ovoid with rounded base and cuspidate apex.

Serration.--Serrate.

Texture.--Leathery dull.

General effect of foliage: Medium density and dull.

Color

Young foliage.--Upperside: 30E8 deep green with violet brown 8D5 mid riband margins. Underside: 29D6 greyish green with 11E5 violet brown blushand margins.

Adult foliage.--Upperside: 28F8 dark green. Underside: 28E6 greyishgreen.

INFLORESCENCE

Number of flowers per stem: 2-5 mostly 4.

Peduncle:

Length.--40-60 mm.

Color.--30D8 deep green.

Thorns/hairs.--Sparse red tipped glandular hairs.

Sepals:

Upperside color.--29D8 deep green with faint pinkish brown blush onouter sepals.

Outer margins.--With long enisform protrusions of red tipped glandularhairs.

Inner margins.--Densely tomentose.

Underside color.--29D6 medium green.

Texture.--Outer sepals slightly ridged and dented.

Sepal length.--30 mm.

Bud shape.--Round with long cuspidate tip.

Length.--33 mm.

Max. width.--13 mm.

Color when opening.--11C7 Fraise fading to 8A3 shell pink.

Flower shape.--Rounded sides, flat top and base.

Diameter.--70 mm.

Color when opening.--Upperside: Outer petals: 3A4 pastel yellow at basechanging 9A2 pale pinkish white. Inner petals: Basal tip 3A6 yellowfading through 3A4 pastel yellow to 5A2 orange white. Underside: Outerpetals: Basal tip 3A4 pastel yellow fading through 5A3 pale orange topale 9A2 pinkish white. Inner petals: Basal tip 3A5 light yellow fadingthrough A4 pastel yellow to 8A2 reddish white.

Color when blooming.--Upperside and most of petal: Basal tip 2A6 yellowfading through 2A3 pale yellow to very pale 9A2 pinkish white. Undersideand most of petal: Basal tip 2A6 yellow fading through 2A3 pale yellowto 9A2 pinkish white.

Coloring when finished blooming.--Upperside: Outer petals: Basal tip 2A4pastel yellow fading to very, very pale 10A2 pinkish color. Innerpetals: White (almost white). Underside: Outer petals: As for outerpetal but a slightly darker 10A2 pinkish color. Inner petals: White(almost white).

Length of season of blooming at location of production: from June toOctober.

Fragrance: Good, myrrhy.

Lasting quality: Average.

Range of days on plant.--8-12 days.

Range of days as cut flowers.--7-9 days.

Petals

Shape.--outside: Rounded margins, smooth and slightly irregular at top.The base is shouldered and cuneate with the petal deeply cupped. Middleand inside: Oblong, top broad, round, margin irregular. Base acute.Petal slightly cupped.

Texture.--Silky.

Number.--95-100 average where inner 6-8 petals resemble stamens growntogether to in turn resemble petals petaloid.

Cleaning.--Good drops its petals quickly leaving a tidy looking rose.

Stamens:

Number.--About 110.

Anthers.--Normal, bright golden yellow 3A6.

Filaments.--Yellow 2A5 of irregular heights.

Pistils.

Number.--125-135 average.

Stigmas.--Normal pale orange/yellow 3A5.

Styles.--Pale green 1B4 at base, changing to yellow 1A5, of irregularheights. Hairy.

Receptacle:

Color.--29D8 deep green.

Texture.--Smooth, glabrous.

Size.--Height 8-10 mm/Width 10-12 mm.

Shape.--Goblet shaped.

THE DEVELOPMENT

Vegetation: Vigorous.

Blooming: Abundant and continual.

Aptitude to bearing fruits: None.

Resistance to frost: Good.

Resistance to disease: Good.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the shrub class,characterised as to novelty by its fully double flowers of a pale creamyapricot coloring, with abundant and continual blooming and the unusualshaping of the flower being substantially as shown and described.